Lentulus Batiatus

Lentulus Batiatus (died 73 BC) was a Roman gladiatorial school owner in Capua who owned gladiators such as Spartacus and Crixus.

Biography
Lentulus Batiatus was a lanista, a trainer and trader of gladiators, based in the Roman port city of Capua in southern Italy. He sought to pursue money, power, and political status, and he married the Roman noblewoman Lucretia, who was just as ambitious as he. Batiatus' ambition led to his former friend Marcus Decius Solonius becoming his rival, and Batiatus accused Solonius of having inferior gladiators and of constantly plotting. In 73 BC, Batiatus purchased the Thracian prisoner Spartacus and made him a gladiator, and Spartacus became a very successful champion of his. Batiatus was engaged in several murderous activities with the goal of acquiring power: he had Spartacus' wife Sura murdered in what was supposed to look like a bandit attack with the goal of preventing Spartacus from fleeing with his wife, and he also murdered the magistrate Titus Calavius murdered for insulting him (he went on to blame his death on Solonius, who was executed in the arena). Batiatus would later face a rebellion by 70 gladiators when they escaped from his gladiatorial school, with Spartacus and Batiatus' former champion, Crixus, leading them. Batiatus was besieged in his villa, and he was cornered by the gladiators, who he taunted. Batiatus' throat was then cut by Spartacus' sword, killing him.